Movable gate for irrigating



fum Model.)

J. A. FRY. MOVABLB GATE. PORIRRIGATING.

Patented July 7, 1885.l

UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. FRY, or BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

MOVABLE GATE FOR mme/irme.

SPECIFICATION fcrming part of Letters Patent No. 321,593, dated July 7, 1885.

Application filed June 30, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FRY, of the city of Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented an Iniproveinent in MovableGates for Irrigating; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description thereof.

My invention relates to an irrigating-gate which is especially used for drawing out waI ter from ditches or-inclosures, so that it may be transferred to other portions ofthe land to be irrigated, as will be more fully described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of ditch, inclosure, and gate. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of gate. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the gate.

Where irrigating ditches are made to pass through arable land, it is 4necessary to draw water from various points and lead it to those parts which are to be irrigated. This is done simply by making an opening in the side of the ditch, and unless a wooden sluiee is put in this will often wash out to such a depth as Awill damage the ditch,and it is almost impossible to stop the opening when desired.

In my invention I employ a heavy plank or frame, A, of sufficient depth, so that its edge may be set down into the side of the ditch or inclosure from which the water is to be drawn. This devicehas an opening cut into it of the proper size, which may be as much as four feet long by`one foot and four inches in depth. A sliding plate, B, is iitted into this opening, so that it may be raised or lowered at will.

To the lower edges of the plank A, upon 'that side which will be toward the inclosure from which the water is to be drawn, lsecure a strip of canvas, C, which is made to lie upon the inner edge of the ditch or inclosure and may have some earth thrown upon it to hold it down. This apron C extends downward on the inside of the ditch, and serves to prevent the water from washing under the edge ofthe plank or frame.

Upon the outer side of the gate or plank which forms the gate, and surrounding the opening ofthe gate, is secured another strip of canvas, D, which may be some eight or nine feet long, so as to extend to a considerable distance away from the gate outwardly,

and it may be held down by wooden pegs E, so that it will not be lifted. The water tlowing through the gate, when the latter is opened, passes over this canvas and reaches to a considerable distance from the gate, spreading out at the same time, so that thecurrent will be very inuch slackened before it reaches upon the softer earth, and there will be no danger of washing by its iow.

When it is desired to stop the flow, the gate B is pushed down' in the guides so as to close the opening, the outer part, D, of the canvas is thrown up over the gate to the inside, and the earth may be thrown into the space outsideof the gate and Vagainst it until the opening is stopped to the proper height. It will then be easy to remove the whole apparatus by lifting upthe ends, when it can be carried along to the next point where it is necessary to draw out Water. In this manner the transfer may be made from point to point and the irrigation carried on, the channel being closed in eac case as soon as the work is done.

This gate may also be applied to the openings through the checks,77 as they are called, to let water pass from one to another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. A portable irrigating device consisting of a plank or frame having anV opening cut through it, a vertically-sliding gate tted to move across the openings, and a flexible apron secured below the opening and extending-Out- Wardly therefrom, substantially as herein described.

2. A portable irrigating device consisting of a plank or franie which may be set iu the side ofthe channel or basin from which water is to be drawn, and having an opening through it with a sliding gate fitted to move across the opening, a flexible apron secured below the opening and extending outwardly, and a flexible apron extending inwardly from the frame, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN A. FRY.

Witnesses:

J. K. PACKARD, H. C. LnonNnR. 

